SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



desert us, lives in our homesteads and our orchards 

 through all the year, our most domestic bird. 

 In the earliest spring it intimates to us, by a low 

 and plaintive chirp, and that peculiar shake of the 

 wing which at all times marks this bird, but 

 then is particularly observable, the approach of 

 the breeding season ; for it appears always to live 

 in pairs, feeding and moving in company with 

 each other. It is nearly the first bird that forms a 

 nest ; and this being placed in an almost leafless 

 hedge, with little art displayed in its concealment, 

 generally becomes the booty of every prying boy : 

 and the blue eggs of the Hedge-sparrow are always 

 found in such numbers on his string, that it is 

 surprising how any of the race are remaining ; espe- 

 cially when we consider the many casualties to 

 which the old birds are obnoxious from their tame- 

 ness, and the young that are hatched from their 

 situation. The plumage of this warbler is re- 

 markably sober and grave, and all its actions are 

 quiet and conformable to its appearance. Its song 

 is short, sweet, and gentle ; sometimes it is pro- 

 longed, but generally the bird perches on the sum- 

 mit of some bush, utters its brief modulation, and 

 seeks retirement again. Its chief habitation is 

 some hedge in the rick-yard, some cottage-garden, 

 or near society with man. Unobtrusive, it does 

 not enter our dwellings like the Redbreast, but 

 picks minute insects from the edges of drains and 

 ditches, or morsels from the door of the poorest 

 dwelling in the village. As an example of a house- 

 hold or domestic bird, none can be found with 



